On Tuesday, NASA announced that its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft will undergo repairs following failure.
NASA’s Orion and SLS spacecraft to be repaired
Before the unmanned Artemis I lunar mission, the US space agency is upgrading its SLS and Orion spacecraft. They have a small leak on the tail service and a faulty upper check valve. The delay is pushing the launch date to later this summer. However, NASA plans to use this time as an opportunity for reviewing the schedule and options for demonstrating its propellant loading operations.
The SLS is due to lift off from the Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. However, the exact launch date depends on the position of the Earth and Moon. NASA wants astronauts to fly in an eclipse since it needs the Sun for powering and regulation. However, the initial delay in Artemis I will postpone future Artemis missions.
More on Artemis missions
NASA’s recent ‘wet dress rehearsal’ was a failure as they were experiencing tech problems. The name is inspired by the liquid propellant used for testing. After trying three times and failing, they decided to roll back the powerful rocket for repairs. Rigorous testing is essential and a part of running through launch operations. This helps researchers perform a final countdown within 10 seconds before take-off without firing the engines.
“I think the early June window would be challenging,” stated Tom Whitmeyer. Whitmeyer is NASA’s deputy associate administrator for common exploration systems development. “The mega moon rocket is still doing very well. The one-check valve is literally the only real issue we’ve seen so far. We’re very proud of the rocket. But we have a little bit more work in front of us,” he added. Additionally, NASA is also paving the way for a longer lunar presence. Through the Artemis missions, the agency is launching the first woman and person of color to the moon. This shall be a stepping stone for sending astronauts to the red planet.